I Am Sorry For Saying Lawmakers Lack Knowledge-Fashola

The Minister of Power,
Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola on Friday, tendered an apology to members
of the House of Representatives when he appeared before an ad-hoc committee of
the House.

The apology follows
allegations that his comments regarding alterations made to the 2017
Appropriation Bill by the National Assembly breached the privileges of the
House and sought to incite the Nigeria public against the legislature. The minister, however, said the comments he made were already
in the public domain and could, therefore, be taken as inciting the public
against the Parliament.

He also made it clear that
it was not his intention to disparage the House and therefore, apologized if
any offence was taken.

“I take the view that
saying that which is already a matter of public record, is with respect, not an
incitement of the public against Parliament. My purpose was not to incite the
public against parliament and that is not my way.

“Allegations that I said
that legislators have stark and worrisome knowledge of the budget process; I
did not say so of legislators as a whole. What I said was with respect to the
spokesperson who responded to
my interview. I have said that it was not my intention to disparage this House,
I have said that very much and that if any offence was taken, it wasn’t
intended and I apologize for that.”

Fashola had through a
statement on June 27, expressed concerns over the recourse of the National
Assembly spokespersons to name calling over his observations on the 2017
budget.

He said he was worried
that the National Assembly spokespersons failed to address the fundamental
points about development, hindering whimsical cuts in the allocations to
several vital projects under the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing as well as other ministries. As the controversy lingered and
continued to draw reactions from the masses, the former Lagos State Governor
said he was not in a fight with the National Assembly but only had a mere
misunderstanding with them.

He, therefore, requested
that it should not be misconstrued as a personal fight but one geared towards
finding best ways to implement the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.